Shock-absorber.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIoE.

BASIL W. MATTHEWS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

pecieation of Letters Batent.

Paten-ted Feb. 25,1913.

Application tiled April 29, 1-91'72. Serial No. $3,805.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BAsIL W. MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New-ark, in the county .of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new fand'- companying drawings, and to charactersofi reerence marked thereon, which form .a part of this specifica-tion.

'Ihe present invention has reference, gen-4 erally,- -to' improvementsin shock-absorbers for use in connection Withveh-icles, such as.automobil-es, and the like; and, the invention relates, moreparticularly, to -a device adaptved to be' interposed between thebody'of the y.vehicle and the springs thereof, by means of Asuddenshocks or jars, transmitted romthe traction-mechanism to the vehicle,-springs, will be 'absorbed and counteracted by the novel shock-absorbingdevice, while at the same time the free resilient action of thevehicle-springs is not interfered with.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a simple andetiective shockabsor-bing device which is composed of few parts ofpositive action; and, from the construction of which. springs and likemem# bers areI eliminated. and such elements which operate to producefrictional resist- -anceare substituted therefor.

Another object of the invention is to pro. vide ashoclcabsorbing devicewhich inter- .poses a frictionalresistance to the transmis sion of -tlie"'s"l10ck, principally in the direction .orl-'lines-of the shock-travelor trans- '.mission from the traction mechanism, but which falsoii-nterposes frictional resistance in lateral linesV as well.

Other objects of the present invention `not at this time moreparticularly enumerated lwi-ll be clearly understood from the followingIdetailed description of t-he present invention:

With the various objects of the present 1nvention in view, the said`invention consists,` primarily, in the novel construction otshock-absorbing device hereinafter set forth;

and, furthermore, this invention consists in the novel .arrangementstand combinations vof the variousparts, as wellasin the details of .theconstruction thereofaallp -which be hereinafter more fully described,and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appendedto and which form .an essential part of this specification. Thelinvention is clearly illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a detail side elevation of the novel shockaibsorber asapplied between the chassis or frame of the vehicle-body and the nvehicle-springs'connected therewith. Fig. Q

is a transverse vertical larged scale, of the sl1ock-abso1ber, said viewillustrating the normal initial relation of the several elements vof thedevice, said view section, on an enshowing a series of spherical bodiesor ballsv in their normally inactive relation with the cam-surfaces oft-he main body-portion and a'cam body comprising parts of the shock-.absorbeig the parts' with relation to the spherical bodies orballshaving a slight rotary motion; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of thesame parts, showing the relative positions or the movable' parts hftersuch slight rotary motion. Fig. 4 is a transverse crosssection, taken online in said Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicatesa portion of the chassis or frame of a vehicle, such for example as anautomobile, and 2 one of the vehicle-[springs connected therewith, bymeansA of which the axle-frame 3 of the traction-niechanism isresilientl)1 connected with said chassis or frame 1.

The novel shock-absorber made according to and embodying the principlesof the pres cnt invention--comprises a. dlslclike or circularbody-portion el provided with a centrally disposed tubular hub 5extending or projecting from the inner side thereof, said hub 5 beingformed at its free end with a reduced extension (5. Said body-portioniis further provided, adjacent to its marginal edges, with an annular orVcircumferential transverse wall the inner surface ot'said wall 7 beingformed so as to provide a se ies `oi" concave cam-surfaces 8, which areequally spaced around the said wall T.

The -reference-character 9 indicates another disk-like or circularbody-.portion also provided with a centrally disposed portion forming acam-body 10, said cam-body-and said disk-like or circular,body-portion.be-

. ing further provided with .a Y centrally ..ds-

jnairalleling the said arm @lli posedtransiferse opening ll to permitthe said Cain-body and said body-portion to be journaled upon the hub :jof said body-portion Ll. V@aid lhotly--portion 9 .is liar-ther profvTvided, adiacenti to its marginal edges, with an annular orcircuin'tereiitial transverse Wall l?, Winch telesconically arranged.

oier the oiiter sni'laiite of the transverse Wall of said body-portione, so that the respeta tive body-portions and their transverse wallsare*rotatably1 relatedwith relation to one another. The said cam-bodyrl0 isprovided in its peripheralsnrt'ace with a series of concavecain-si`irfaces 13' which are equally 3, spaced apart, and are disposedso as to register' immediately opposite the said concave can-surfaces,when the respective bodyportions aand .9 nare in their normal positionswith relation to each other.

Arranged Within the spaces le, interven.

ing between 'the respectiveoppositely facing concave cainfsiirfaces Sand 13 are spherical members or halls l5, which substantially" contactat opposite points of their surfaces i, 'with the said concavecani-surfaces S and lign/'lien the parte are in their normal initialpositions.

and 9 is substantially limited to the. diameter of said sphericalmembers or balls l5, to permit of a. slight rotar;T inotion of theparts, the said spherical members or balls contacting at transverselyopposite points ot' their surfaces with Vthe respective bodypoi'tions eand 9, but without intertering with the slight rotary increments of thersaid parts l and 9. f

rlllhe reference-character 16' indicates aV disk-member having; a'central ];)er'oratioii` l?, by means ot which said dish-member issecured upon. the reduced extension 6 of said hab 5, a holt 18 and nut-19, together "with suitably disposed Washers 20, 'beingpassed throughsaid tubular hub 5, and seri.-

, ing to retainthe above described parts inv their properlyinter-related. positions. 'Pros iecting from the marginal edge of thesaid body-portion l is an arm. z2, and, in like manner, projecting fromthe marginal edge of' the dislmnemher 't6 is another arm 2Q parallelingsaid arm 2l. The respective arms 21 and 252 are inclined' or bent towardY each other so thattheir free ends register, and

are thas secured together to forni a 'poi ,n

' 23, which is pivotally connected with a nor tion oi2 theaisle-trarne?) of the vehicle. Pio 'jecting lroin the marginal edge ofthe bodyportion 9 is' an arm 24, and extending from the outer edge ot'the Wall lit o said body: portion 9 isa AFlange or rim 25, from themarginal edge ot which entends an aria 26 ie respeciclined or tir/e armsand are also n bent toward each. other` so that VMnds reg aigri-arcta@seciir ,together The width ot' the space between .the linne surfacesofsaid. body-portions 4C their free .inerente f to torni a portion'?,which is pivotally secured .to a portion ot' the chassis or traine l,

l i 1 v c lne action or the shock-absorber, conhstructed ashereinabovedescrihed, is as tol tating body-portions producesbut littlel'ricu tion gy hence, the yVehicle-spring; 2`is permitted to Worklpractically unresisted Within the norma-l.l spring liinitS,-so that theor dinary relativel movement of the vehiclebody and' traine 1 and thetraction mecha Vnisin is permitted; but when an `excessive shock or jaris imparte/l .through the traction mechanism to 'said l isle-spring, sothat the spring tends to n'ioife beyond its normal spring liniits,.thfeincreasing frictional resistance ofthe balls lo, asinored be tween thecam-surtaces 8 and i3, absorbs and tends to resist the :tissage of thisshock to the vehiclebody and frame. rlhe return or opposite rotation ofsaidbodyportions tending` to return the respective Vcam-surfaces totheir normal oppositely registering positions, is accomplished Withconstantly decreasing frictionaly resistance., sol that. thevehicle-spring quickly regains its normal limit oit'v 'inoveinent,before the shock has been transmitted to the ve-v hicle-body and frame;vThe resistance of fared by the mechanism is radial to the opi positelyrotating body portions, but is interposed inthe directionof the linescfthe shock-travel orv transmission.

ln the construction et' the norel-shcckali# sorbet', ashereinaiboredescribed, the an Y rangement of the parts' is such, that a dust.-

*Qroof and practically moisture-proof con struction is offered.,Wherehj.vv the internal mechanism is 'protected from the deterioratingand obstructive effects of dirt7 rust, and 'the lilref lt Will beunderstood that there is no lirictional resistance between the parts 'land l2.

ln clain1:- i l. A shock-absorber comprising tivo relatively rotatableparts, one partcomprising aV body-portion provided with an annularcircumferential Wall,` the inner surface oit eny ico

the latter having a series of concave vcarnsurfaces, the other partcomprising; a bofljt 'portion provided with a centrally disposedeanrbody, the peripheral surface ot which is provided sith aseries oitconcave eemsurfaces normally registering opposite the cani-surfaces ofsaid mst-mentioned part, e

' trailydilsposed lcani-body, said body-portion anemie tively oppositecani-surfaces and riding in contact therewith, and lever-arms connectedl with said rotatable parts.

2. shock-absorber comprising two re'latively rotatable one partcomprising a. body-portion provided with an annular cncuniierentialwall/g the inner surface ot the latter having a. series ot equallyspaced f concave caro-surfaces, and a centrally disposed tubularhubconnected with said bodyportion, the other partconiprising' a bodyortionprovided with a centrallv disposed cani-body, said body-portion andcani-body having a centrally disposed tubular opening receiving the hubot said JFirst-inentior ed body-portion, the peripheral surt'ace ries ofequally spaced concave. cam-surtaccs normally registering opposite thecani-surfaces of said first-mentioned body-portion( a series of ballsinterposed between the respect-ively opposite'cam-surlaces and riding yin Contact therewith, and lever arms connected' with said rotatableparts..

A shock-absorber comprising ltwo relatively rotatable parts, one partcomprising a bodyportion provided with an annular-l circuniferentialwall, the .inner surface o'l' the latter having a series ot equallyspaced 4i'cave cani-surfaces, and a centrally disposed tubular hubAconnected with said bodyportion, the other part comprising abodyportion provided with an annularI circuniterential wall adapted totelescope snugly over the wall oli-said irst-nientioned bodyportion, andfurther provided with a cenrn-bodyx'having a centrally disposed tubularopening-tor receiving the hub i peripheral surface of said cani-bodybeing f provided with a series ol equally spaced tering st-nienconcavecani-surfaces ntaanally r opposite the lain-surtaces of said i tionedbody-portion, a series ot balls inter,-

posed between the respectively opposite cani surfaces and riding incontact therewith,

and lever-arms connected with said rolatable parts.

-lf shock-absorber comprising two relatively rotatable parts providedwith transverse telescoping' outer walls, a series ot' concavecani-portions spaced around the inaid cani-body being provided with asel nerside oit the transverse wall of one part,

i 5. Arshock-absorber comprising two relai tively rotatable partsprovided with transverse telescoping 'outer walls, a centrallyperforated cani-body connected with one of said parts, a tubular hubconnected with the l other of said parts and extending through i `theperforationof said cam-body, a series l of concave cani-portions spacedaround the l inner side of the transverse wall of one of said parts, aseries ot concave cani-portions spaced around the periphery of thecambody of the other of said parts and norinally facing saidirst-nientioned cani-portions, balls lying between the respectivelyfacing cani-portions and contacting therewith, and lever-arms connectedwith said j rotatable parts.

A shock-absorber ccniprisng two relatively rotatable parts provided withtransverse telescoping outer walls, a centrally perforated cam-bodyconnected with one ot' i said parts, :r tubular hub connected with the Lother of said parts and eiftending through the perforation of saidcam-body, a ser es i inner side of the transverse wall of one ot' saidparts, a series of concave Cain-portions "spaced around the peripheryot' the calnbody of the other ot said parts and normally facing saidfirst-mentioned ja11i-portions i and contacting therewith, a reducedextension projecting from said tubular\hub.y a disk-member securedthereto, a bolt and nut for securing said rotatable parts and saiddislt-ineniber in their properly related arrangement, a lever-armconnected with one of said rotatable parts and said disk-ineinber, and asecond lever-arm connected with the other rotatable part.

ln testin'lony, that I claiin the invention y set forth above I havehereunto set my hand l this lSth day of April, i912.

Witnesses ["Iucoii. L. llinu'zx'rznn, Fenna. N. lV. lfaxx-iiwrzrzri.

g of concave Cain-portions spaced around the

